One Room Challenge: Spring 2020 - Small Space Makeover

Well, the weeks were already going by so fast with shelter in place and it seems to just be kicked up a notch now that One Room Challenge has commenced. This week’s updates are minor, but very important when it comes to setting the tone of my office space.

If you missed it, you can read all about the kick-off to this round, but I’m working on a flex space on the first floor of my townhouse to make it the perfect content creating studio for me! Here’s a couple of pictures so you can see what I’m starting with.

The actual flex space is almost 10 feet wide and almost 7 feet deep, so I don’t have the most room to work with, which is why I thought it was great for One Room Challenge. It’s a time to get creative and unconventional! I do have a window that brings in light, but it’s not in the best position for how the room is shaped (in my humble opinion). The entryway will not have that crazy of a makeover for the mere fact that we are renters, but it will be painted – and that’s why this week’s update is so important!

ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 2 PROGRESS

This week was dedicated to narrowing down a paint color and selecting a desk. Can I just tell you that I thought the paint was going to be the hardest part? The desk search was an odyssey – and at first, I thought it just was me being too picky, but the truth is, inventory is so low for desks that are under $600 in the style that I am looking for. I looked at big box stores and smaller retailers, too.

This was something I should’ve bought immediately because this is the direct result of people working from home and distance learning. I can’t cry over spilt milk, especially since I was unsure if I was participating in One Room Challenge afterall, but I definitely started to feel the overwhelm! But, I’m so happy that I took a break, and after one more search, I finally found one from west elm that was the right specs, and it has the simple elegance I wanted. It’ll arrive in a couple of weeks!

PREPPING FOR CLARE PAINT

I’m so so to partner with Clare again on the paint for my space. Clare made everything from ordering to setting up for last year’s one room challenge SO EASY. That was my first time painting, so if I’m saying it, then you know it’s true. I wanted to work with them on One Room Challenge again because their colors are varied and on-trend, plus they were founded by a badass woman of color and I have to represent! The company was created by Nicole Gibbons, a revered interior designer and media correspondent and Clare has changed the game when it came to the customer experience. With color genius quizzes and swatches direct-to-your-door, it makes it so easy for your vision to come to life.

When my three color swatches arrived in the mail, I got them right on the wall. I wanted to see how they looked in the office at different times of the day!

I love these colors for all different reasons, so narrowing them down was hard. What do you usually do when you can’t make a decision? I ask my friends…and my audience! So I posted on Instagram asking folks to weigh in. After taking that feedback, I was able to at least get it down to two colors, which complement so well with the wallpaper that I am planning to put in the office.

THE CONTENDERS

I narrowed it down to Dirty Martini and Pop. I was surprised when CJ said that I should do the pink, especially since we made an agreement that I could take that color outside of the office space. I then decided that I could have the best of both worlds, have the office in Pop and then add the Dirty Martini to the hallway. I slept on it and made a decision.

While a pink palace would be absolutely wonderful, considering where this room is in the house, plus the fact that I want to pick up blush tones in the wallpaper with throws, flowers, art, and more, that it makes sense to go with Dirty Martini in the office and hallway. *pop the champagne* If we had a wider space to work with and more windows to work with, I may have run with pink. I am not a designer, just a creative that loves pretty spaces and I’m learning that these things absolutely affect design decisions – and enforce limitations! But, instead of seeing it as a limitation, I’m seeing it as an opportunity! And so will you over the next few weeks through my One Room Challenge updates… 🙂

That’s all for now, y’all! I’ll be back with another update soon. You can follow my everyday adventures + ORC coverage on Instagram – I’m @thekachetlife. Be sure to check out the other One Room Challenge participants, the Featured Designers, and the guest participants like me, too!